MANILA—Defending champion University of Manila leaned on Eugene Torres and Jeff Alvin Viernes to beat Our Lady of Fatima University, 88-77, Friday and extend its winning streak to six in the National Athletics Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) men’s basketball at Trace College Gym in Los Baños, Laguna.
Torres, last year’s Rookie-MVP, fired 19 points, while Viernes added 18 for the Hawks, who have caught fire after a shocking loss to last year’s runner-up STI in the opening day—which they blamed on missing uniforms.
“The inaugural game was an eye-opener for us,” said UM executive vice president lawyer Ernesto delos Santos. “Right now everybody has a loss so that leveled the playing field.”
The victory gave UM the top spot with a 6-1 record. STI, which downed New Era, 77-59, was at second spot along with Informatics and Centro Escolar (5-2).
Maclean Sabellina powered the Olympians with 17 points and was ably supported by Cedric Ablaza, Ivan Moreno and Rama Krisna Morales.
In the third game, CEU edged Informatics, 85-80, through the heroics of John David Orbeta, who unloaded 17 markers.
Later, St. Clare walked over City University of Pasay, 20-0.